Spinning wool

A fleece from a friend of which I have spun a 2ply yarn weighing 147g, and of about 15 wpi. This picture is a bit darker than the acutal fibre colour. Loads of fleece left to spin!

This is a Dorset fleece from the Suffolk Show 2006, spun into a 2ply yarn, weighing 202g and approx 14/15wpi. This was a massive fleece so I also have alot left over to still spin. This is the washed fibre, compare with the post from yesterday to see the difference in colour!

Spinning with wool & Bamboo

This is the roving from Iris, just started to spin this, fine laceweight, lovely variated colours and very soft.
This is 100g Bamboo Fibre from Wingham Wool Work (UK), I have now to spin another bobbin as I will make a 2 ply yarn.

This is a fleece I got from the Suffolk Show last year, initially I spun straight from the fleece as it was so clean and easy to handle but had the rest sent to a fibre mill to be processed because the fleece with the lanolin was not very nice after a few months. This is before washing, it was very yellow and extremely greasy! More to follow.

Knitters Tea Swap Parcel Arrives!

A very big thank you to Iris for her very generous parcel with loads of goodies in, she really seems to know what I like so below are photos of what was in the parcel.

This is a skein of shrink resistant lace weight merino - 100g = 1375yds, many packets of Kool-Aid for creative dyeing and a pattern for the Fiber Trends Landscape Shawl & Scarf.

This is Ingeo Yarn, a skein is 1.75oz = approx 110yds made from the yellow kernel of the corn not corn silk - this is produced in Iowa.
Many individual sachets of teas, 2 pack of Gong Fu Tea - Lemon & Hibiscus and Prince of Wales (from Iowa). Also the 'Star of Persia' tea with ruby sugar crystals.

3 packs of Soy Nuts, I have already eaten the zesty barbeque flavour (we don't have these in the UK and they are delicious), also there is chocolate and roasted/salted.
4 ounces of 70% Alpaca 30% silk from Huacaya Moon,
This is a natural varigated colour.

Good old PG Tips and a bar of French Lavender Soap from Two Rivers Soap Company. A pretty cloth in a lavender shade comes with the soap which has a very natural wonderful smell.

And finally 8oz of a wool roving, very soft to the touch and really my style of fibre!

Thank you Iris, this has been an amazing swap, with really unexpected kindness and generosity.

Sirdar Shrug

This is the finished Sirdar Shrug using Blur yarn in 'Indigo' shade, it took just over 3.5 balls of yarn, very soft and warm! I have chosen to donate it to Claudia who is doing a cycle ride for the National MS Society. Go and take a look at her blog, donate some money if you wish and look at all the generous wonderful prizes people have pledged to help raise funds for the National MS Society.

F O

This is my finally finished Baltic Sea Stole the pattern is from Fibre Trends and I bought the pattern from Get Knitted. I used Rare Comfort Jo Sharp Kid Mohair, also available from Get Knitted in the colourway 'Cello'. I bought 10 balls and used 9.5, as I slightly increased the length of the stole to use as much yarn as possible. This has taken me months of occasionally knitting a few rows, but being my first lace project I really like the result. The pattern was very repetitive but I now realise this is what lace is about. Some of the lace patterns are so pretty I will be venturing into more challenging patterns, which one to choose though, there are loads of shawl patterns I love, any suggestions as to what to do next?

The Sirdar Shrug is next on the needles, pictures to follow

Spinning

This is a 2ply, approx 260yds, 12wpi yarn. 1 ply is of soy silk and the other of random dyed Suffolk wool. The yarn is quite soft as the soy silk balances the roughness of the Suffolk wool.

Spun freebie by Kat

Spun by Kat, the parcel got all the way to America! She has spun 2 lots, one being navajo-plied and the other thick and thin singles. Thank you to everyone who has participated with the spinning as I am really impressed with all the spun results, this is a really positive result, keep sending in comments and photos please. Kat both are very pretty, I particularly like the navajo-plied one!

Spun freebie by Jo

Pictures from Jo, the fibre sample looks gorgeous and I really like the combination of the eyelash yarn with the spun wool. Stats - 7 wpi, and 23.6yds of fibre goodness. I am now researching possible websites to sell my wares from, does anyone have any tips/ideas on the best type of site to sell fibre from e.g. Etsy shop, Mr site website etc?

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Sirdar Blur Shrug

My next project is a Sirdar Blur Shrug, I will be using Sirdar Blur yarn in the 'Indigo' colour (708). I got the yarn from The Black Sheep Ltd. I am now about 90% complete on the Baltic Stole and looking forward to my next project!

Spun freebie by Anne

Here are pictures of the sample sent to Anne, 25wpi, 200yds, approx 40-50gms, single ply - gorgeous! I love how the marine blue from Omega Dyes looks much more subtle than on the dyed roving.

Spun freebie by Artis-Anne

Here are the first piccies from Artis-Anne of some of my free fibres spun up! I am now getting really informative feedback on whether to start an internet fibre shop! This sample weighed approx 40gm and using several different techniques -(slubby yarn, light Aran weight, Lace weight) Anne got about 52 yds of 2 ply yarn. I love the Malachite colour, and the barber pole effect with the white, I agree with Anne, the colour is very intense and I think it looks great!

Freebie Winners

Congratulations , the winners of the fibre samples in no particular order are -

Chris (Christina's Creations)
Kath (Kath's Krafty Kreations)
Ruth
Maylin (Tricot Treat)
Annie (Up Knit Creek)
Artis-Anne
Diane (Needles on the Move)
Jo (Freestylefibre)
Kat (Creative Pop-Offs)

Please respond to this post by 1st June 2007 by sending your e-mail details to me at Rachel.spinning@ntlworld.com.
Please let me know your favourite colour and your least favourite colour.
Include your address and full name so I know where to send the fibres.
I will send the fibres out as people respond to the post.
After 1st June 2007 the fibre samples will no longer be offered so claim your free samples while you can!

Garden Flowers

Pictures of late arrivals from around the garden!

Progress is slow on the weaving, about 2.5 cushions complete and 80% of the Baltic Sea Stole now complete.